Making its debut on the UCI World Cup circuit, Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah (USA), offers riders a unique challenge. Its dry, sandy terrain is unlike anything encountered so far this season and is expected to add an extra layer of unpredictability to the racing.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Soldier Hollow, presented by SCOTT Sports, including the schedule for the Cross-country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-country Olympic (XCO) races, the key riders to watch, and how you can follow all the action live.
WHEN?
The 2026 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series round in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA) starts with the Women’s U23 UCI XCC World Cup at 11:20 (UTC-6) on Saturday, September 19 and concludes with the Men’s Elite UCI XCO World Cup at 15:30 (UTC-6) on Sunday, September 20.
Below are the key timings for race weekend. All times are UTC-6 (EST-2/BST-7/CEST-8):
Saturday, September 19
11:20 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Women U23
12:10 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Men U23
13:00 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Women Elite
13:50 – UCI Cross-Country Short Track | Men Elite
Sunday, September 20
9:00 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Women U23
11:00 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Men U23
13:30 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Women Elite
15:30 – UCI Cross-Country Olympic | Men Elite
WHERE CAN I WATCH?
The WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series heads to North America for the first time in 2026, with the eighth round of the UCI Cross-country World Cup set to take place at Soldier Hollow. Fans around the world will be able to watch the Elite XCC and XCO races live via the following broadcasters and streaming services:
Europe:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Baltics, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine – HBO Max / Eurosport
Czechia – HBO Max, Eurosport and CT Sport +
France – HBO Max, Eurosport and L'Equipe Live
Ireland – TNT Sports
Switzerland, Liechtenstein – HBO Max, Eurosport and SRF/RSI
United Kingdom – HBO Max and TNT Sports
Asia:
Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand – Eurosport World
Oceania:
Australia – Stan Sport
New Zealand – MTBWS TV
Samoa – Eurosport World
North America:
Canada – FloSports
USA – HBO Max / MTBWS TV
South & Central America: MTBWS TV
Africa: MTBWS TV
All other territories: MTBWS TV
RIDERS TO WATCH
A lot has changed in the fight for the UCI XCO World Cup overall since the last European round of the season in Les Gets, Haute-Savoie (France) at the end of August.
In the women’s field, Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) appears to have the momentum. The Swiss rider followed up the XCO-XCC double she secured in Les Gets by claiming the UCI XCO World Championship title in Val di Sole, further strengthening her credentials as she looks to hunt down Jenny Rissveds (Canyon XC Racing).
While Rissveds still holds a commanding 282-point lead with two rounds remaining, Frei will be aiming to close the gap before the season finale at Lake Placid Olympic Sites, New York (USA) and take the overall contest down to the wire. That task now takes her to Soldier Hollow, the latest of three new UCI Cross-country World Cup venues introduced in 2026, following MONA YongPyong (South Korea) and La Thuile, Valle d’Aosta (Italy). Frei has already proven she can adapt quickly to unfamiliar terrain, claiming another XCO-XCC double at the Korean stop earlier this season.
While Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), Martina Berta (Origine Racing Division) and Laura Stigger (Specialized Factory Racing) remain mathematically in contention for the overall title, they are more realistically chasing podium positions in the standings.
Other riders to watch include Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team), whose impressive return to competition continued with a fifth-place finish at the UCI XCO World Championships, and Haley Batten (Specialized Factory Racing), the local favourite and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist.
The men’s competition also remains mathematically open with five riders still in contention, although it would take a major upset for Luca Martin (Cannondale Factory Racing) not to be crowned the 2026 overall winner. The Frenchman’s closest challenger, Adrien Boichis (Specialized Factory Racing), has shifted his focus to road racing for the remainder of the season, leaving Bjorn Riley (SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team), Simone Avondetto (Wilier-Vittoria Factory Team) and Dario Lillo (Giant Factory Off-Road Team - XC) with a significant deficit to make up.
That does not mean there will be any shortage of storylines in Soldier Hollow. Martin is chasing a third UCI XCO World Cup victory of the season, while teammate Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) will look to carry his strong form into the North American leg after finishing runner-up to Tom Pidcock at the UCI XCO World Championships, having already secured the European title in July. 
Martín Vidaurre Kossman (Specialized Factory Racing), fourth in Val di Sole, and teammate Christopher Blevins should also feature prominently. The latter has happy memories of the venue, having won the American Continental XCO Championship there in 2024.
Saturday’s UCI XCC World Cup race could prove equally decisive in the battle for the overall series. Just 80 points separate Frei and Rissveds in the Women Elite standings and, with 500 points still available, Savilia Blunk, Nicole Koller (Lapierre PXR Racing) and Laura Stigger remain in the mathematical hunt. Blunk will be especially motivated on home soil as she targets her second UCI XCC World Cup victory of the season, while Stigger will make her first appearance in the rainbow jersey since being crowned UCI XCC World Champion.
In the Men Elite category, the absence of newly crowned UCI XCC World Champion Adrien Boichis reopens the fight for the overall title between Luca Martin and Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing Division). Both riders are expected to surpass Boichis’ points tally, with just 46 points separating them heading into the final two rounds. Although Azzaro has been the less consistent of the two, he boasts two UCI XCC World Cup wins this season compared to Martin’s none. Martin, however, held the upper hand at the UCI XCC World Championships, finishing third while Azzaro crossed the line in seventh. Elsewhere, Riley will be targeting a second victory of the campaign in front of a home crowd, while Aldridge arrives with podium momentum after his runner-up finish in Val di Sole.
Racing gets underway on Saturday, September 19 in Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah (USA).
Full schedule and event details are available HERE.
You can find where to watch all of the racing action live HERE.
